Connecting mechanism



Sept. 28, 1926. 1,601,056

R. C. AGNER CONNECTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 24 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H! x; l i g I II I i! Z 4 3 i! J A, A; [I /4 6 %6 l 7L n a 7 Sept. 28, 1926. mowss R. C. AGNER CONNECTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I; Ill |l|| Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

STATE RAYMOND C. AGNER, OF BURLINGTON, WISCONSIN.

CONNECTING MECHANISM.

Application filed February 24, 1925. Serial No. 11,270.

g This invention aims to provide novel means-whereby two members, of any desired sort, may be securely but detachably connected: another object of the invention being so to construct the constituent parts of the device that the same will possess unusual strength, and be well adapted to withstand long-continued and rough use.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally, and to enhance the utility of, devices of that type to which the disclosure appertains: other and more specific objects being made manifest, as the description proceeds.

A few forms have been selected as material embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that the application of the invention is wide, and that a mechanic, working within the scope of what is clalmed, may make such changes and alterations; as his skill may suggest, without depart ng from the spirit of the invention, or placlng the utility of the device in jeopardy.

The specification is to be read in conjunction with" the drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows in elevation, a lubricating device wherein the connecting mechanism which forms the subject matter of this application is embodied;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the structure depicted in Figure 1, some parts remaining in elevation;

Figure 3' is a top plan of the coupling or second member of the device-which appears in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken through the body of the lubricating device shown in Figures 1 and. 2 and illustrating, particularly, the opening, seats, and guideways;-

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken through the body of the lubricating device, and illustrating, in elevation, one of the seats and one of the guide-ways which appear in plan in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of another sort of lubricating device wherewith the invention may be used advantageously, parts appearing in elevation;

Figure 8 is a side elevation showin still another kind of lubricating device, em odying the invention;

Figure 9 is a section of the structure 1y incline shown in Figure 8, parts being in elevation;

Figure 10 is a top plan of the article delineated in Figures 8 and 9;

Figure 11 is a fragment-a1 side elevation, showing a slight modification in the coupling or second member;

Figure 12 is a top plan of the coupling which appears in Figure 11.

As has been stated hereinbefore, the device forming the subject matter of this application may be used in widely remote arts, and for connecting two members of almost any kind. In Figures 1 to 6, however, as an illustration, the connecting mechanism, to be described hereinafter, is employed in a lubricating device 1, including a first member 2, in the form of a cup-shaped body, having a thickened end piece 3. The lubricating device 1 embodies a slidable plunger 4, carrying a washer 5, and advanced by a compression spring 6. Since the device claimed is a connecting mechanism, it is unnecessary to deal with the operation of the lubricating device 1, considered as such, and the same observation holds true with regard to the lubricating devices hereinafter described.

In the end piece 3 of the body 2 there is an opening 7, which may be of various shapes, without departing from the spirit of the invention. The opening 7 is shown as of diamond shape, including tapered portions 8, but, possibly, another form of opening might be selected, the essential features of the invention being still retained. In the inner surface of the end piece 3 there are seats 9 which widen as they extend toward the opening 7, the seats communicating with the openin Oircumferentially and inwardguideways 10 extend from the ends 8 of the opening 7 to the seats 9, the

aforesaid inclination of the guideways' behe numeral 11 deslgnates a second member or coupling having oppositely disposed, integral, tapered "lateral projections 12 which conform in general outline to the shape of the end portions 8 of the opening 7. The projections 12 are beveled ofi', at their inner corners, as shown at 14 in Figure 2. The projections 12 are widest wherev they join the coupling 11, and owing to'this fact, together with the further circumstance that the parts 12 and 11 are into al, the projections possess great strengt and are I not likely to be broken ofi. In this regard, the

ing clearly shown in Figure 5.

device has manifest advantages over a structure wherein pins or projections of circular or rectangular cross section are employed as elements of a connecting mechanism.-

In practical operation, the lubricating device is placed on the coupling 11, the projections 12 entering the opening 7, the plunger 4 retiring, and the spring 6 being compressed. When the lubricating device 1 is rotated, the beveled corners 14 of the projections 12 first ride along the inclined guideways 10, the spring'G being compressed further, the extremities of the projections 12 finally arriving in the seats 9, where they will be held, securely but detachably, by the action of the spring 6.

Figure 7 shows that the invention may be embodied in a lubricating device'15, including a cup-shaped body l6having a thickened end member 17, a slidable plunger 18 being shown, and the plunger being advanced by a compression spring 19. The

openin 20 in the end member 17 is of the' form shown at 78 in Figure 4:, and the end member 17 having the seats and guideways hereinbefore discussed in connection with Figure 4. The coupling is marked by the numeral 21, and its projections 22 are like the projections 12 of Figures 2 and 3.

The operation of the device shown in Figure 7 will be understood without explanation, when the operation of the form disclosed in Figure 2 is recalled.

In Figures 8, 9 and 10, the coupling appears at 23 and has projections 27 like the projections 1.2 of F igures' 2 and 3. A cap 24 is adapted to be mounted on the coupling 23 and includes an end member 25 characterized by the provision of an opening 26, like the opening 78 of Figure l, the guideway and seat features of Figure 4 being retained. A compression spring 28 within the-cap 24, and a compression spring 29 about the coupling 23 and engaging the cap, or either one ofthe said springs, afford a resilient means for carrying out the function hereinbefore attributed to the spring (3 of Figure 2.

The form shown in Figures 8 and 9, like the form shown in Figure 7, needs no detailed explanation, as to operation.

In the event that it is desired to reduce friction to a minimum, it may be desirable to resort to the coupling 30 of Figures 11 and 12, the projections 31 of the coupling being supplied on one or both of their working surfaces with anti-friction elements of any kind, for instance balls 32.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a connecting mechanism, a first member having an end piece provided with an opening, opposite portions of the opening being tapered, the inner surface of the end piece being provided with oppositely disposed seats, the inner surface of the end piece being supplied with guideways leading from the extremities of said tapered portions, to the seats, the guideways being inclined inwardly toward the axis of the opening, and being inclined, circumferentially of the first member, from the extremities of said tapered portions, to the seats; and a second member provided with a transverse projection conforming in shape to the opening, the ends of the projection being adapted to ride along the guideways and enter the seats, 12119011 relative rotation between the first an second members.

2. A device of the class described, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and further characterized by the fact that the projection is provided with anti-friction bearings, located adjacent to the ends of the projection, and adapted to cooperate with the guideways.

lln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, 1 have hereto affixed my signature.

RAYMOND C. AGNER. 

